Restore/mod BBS RS

[Runtus_Maximus]

Hey Guys
Ive just picked up a set of BBS RS 15x7 +15 with the intention of modding them to 16x8.5 +15.
im hoping to get myself into a mkIII golf sometime soon.

Ive read somewhere before that the 15 & 16" rs use the same centre with different outer rims,
ive looked around but cant find anything to confirm it.

also does anyone know of a good place to get chroming done as ive heard a few horror stories about the aussie guys not being able to do alloy properly and getting rubbish results.
Thanks In Advance

[WABIT]

first off, 15" centers have different number of bolt holes to 16" RS's so you'd have to get some centers and barrels custom made, and by custom made, i mean from scratch!

also if you want to keep the same offset but make the wheels wider, you have to replace both inner barrels and lips, so throw everything out except the 15" centers, if you want to keep the same offset you need to widen either end by 19mm to achieve 8.5 +15

also about chroming, yes! its VERY VERY hard to find someone who would be willing to chrome RS's, mainly for the fact of too many spokes and small corners, but if i were you, id look into nickel plating , its easier and comes up with a metallic finish, just not as mirror as chrome

hope this help's you

cheers
dom

[Golf4Mikey]

I'm not 100% sure but I think only 16" and 17" shared the same centres. Also you do realise your offsets change as you change barrel or lip widths.

some links that may interest you
Wheel Whores • View topic - Rebuilding your BBS RS/RM's
Wheel Whores • View topic - Polishing?? How...
VWvortex Forums: BBS Wide Wheel Lip Information FAQ

[Jarred]

Need to start off with a set of much more exxy 16's! imo

[Whubbsie]

good place to find the parts you need

Tunershop - Wheel accessories - tuning - light alloy wheels - coilovers - spacers - tyres

Might have a set of 16s to swap, rears will need new barrels and you will need adaptors for all 4 but they will give you the offset/width you are after.

[WABIT]

I'm not 100% sure but I think only 16" and 17" shared the same centres. Also you do realise your offsets change as you change barrel or lip widths.

SOME! 17's share the same lips with 16's!! they had the old school 17's that were built in germany, those are the ones u need to look for, but when they moved their RS production to japan, they changed the centers and called them super RS's, looks the same, but totally different wheel compared to the german RS's

dom

[Jarred]

I thought super RS's were 18's only??

[dylan8]

good place to find the parts you need

Tunershop - Wheel accessories - tuning - light alloy wheels - coilovers - spacers - tyres

ooo nice. Going by the response i have received regarding polishing my lips i might be safer and cheaper just buying.
Although $1200 before shipping for lips and bolts is more then what i paid for the whole wheels with postage.

Are BBS RS 17s just 17s (there’s no variation from countries made etc)? Mine look like the normal ones not the Super RS

Anyone want to go halfies in postage?

[WABIT]

as i said...... early early ones look like this


and ordinary 17" look like these, they are called super RS's.......


and by the way... sorry to go off topic by a mile..... but im pretty sure all your questions have been answered hehe

dom

[WABIT]

I thought super RS's were 18's only??

they come in also 18" and 19"

dom

[Runtus_Maximus]

Haha Cheers Dom,
no worries, it's all good, yeah I was pretty much aware that I have to bin everything but the centres to get what I want, I was hoping what I heard was true just to make it a bit simpler than going totally custom, I was certain someone mentioned it somewhere, might of been somewhere on wheelwhores.

Nickel Plating is one step short of chroming during the process isn't it?
Anyone have it done here or recommend somewhere to get it done?

So you guys think 16" is too small for a mkiii?!? Really? 8.5 +15 is ok though?
Thanks for all the info guys
Cheers Will

[Jarred]

16's will work ace on a mk 3

[Golf Houso]

16's will work ace on a mk 3

X2, the perfect proportions as long as you stance it out. i.e. 7.5 inch wide +

[Runtus_Maximus]

Sweet.

So how much of a drop would "stance it out"? 3" or more? That's what I have in mind.
will they sit flush with the guards with a stretched tyre?

I hope so

[Golf Houso]

Sweet.

So how much of a drop would "stance it out"? 3" or more? That's what I have in mind.
will they sit flush with the guards with a stretched tyre?

I hope so

Really depends on trial and error, like mentioned earlier. Spend the time getting the offsets right, prepare the appropriate tires, roll the guard and then you can do what you wish. At least that way you won't have anything stopping you from completely nailing the stance once you get the wheels on :8